How to Make Southern-Style, Sugar-Free, Sweet Iced Tea ~ For a Diabetic ~

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By 2ndMomma
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CHEERS! Here's a round of our "Splenda'd tea" for 2 of the great girls who call me, "2ndMomma." And a jar-full for my precious Daughter who, even though away at college, still CALLS me daily, "Momma!"

Here in North Carolina sweet tea is called, "the wine of the south." Glasses brimming full can be found in almost every home or restaurant; however, you would have to look long and hard to find a glass of sweet tea a diabetic could drink without worry.

Tea can actually be an effective weapon in the fight against diabetes. According to Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, drinking black, green, or oolong teas can improve insulin activity up to 15 times! Herbal teas don't have any effect on diabetics as they do not use leaves from tea bushes.

And...just as exciting to learn, this insulin-augmenting effect was seen studying both caffeinated and decaffeinated teas. Not only that, this insulin-boosting phenomenon may explain why tea can help fight heart disease, high blood pressure, infections, and even cancer.

So...drink, drink, drink your favorite brews of tea knowing you're doing a good thing for your body as you savour each and every drop.

"There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson (and I bet he knew how to brew a cup of beautiful sweet tea from that chest!)

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

(2) One-Gallon Pitchers
Tea Kettle
Large Spoon
4 Cups Splenda (No Calorie Sweetner with the American Diabetes Assoc. stamp of approval)
6 Family Size Tea Bags (I prefer "Lipton Iced Tea Brew")
Water

Step 1

Fill tea kettle near full with water, tap or spring. Put on burner and bring water to boil.
Step 2

Pour 4 cups of Splenda into one of the 1-gallon pitchers.
Step 3

Pour boiling water into the pitcher containing the Splenda.
Step 4

Stir with large spoon. Be Careful!!! not to get burned by the boiling water or the steam. NOTE: The Splenda will dissolve easily, but I still like to stir! :))
Step 5

Place 6 Family Size Tea Bags into boiled water with the bags' strings drapped over the side of the pitcher.
Step 6

Let this steep (extract the essence of the tea by soaking) for at least 30 minutes. My Family and I prefer it to sit about 2 hours before the next step; we like the taste best that way. I have even left it sitting overnight, and it still has a great taste! Just experiment with your own likes and dislikes.
Step 7

After tea has "cooked" to your liking, sqeeze water from tea bags, draining the excess into the pitcher. Fill the gallon pitcher with water to the 1-gallon mark. **THIS MAKES 4 GALLONS OF "TEA-CONCENTRATE." You will LOVE this method as you save time making gallon after gallon :)) Plus, you'll always be ready for guests...their glasses will never go empty!
Step 8

To make the 1st gallon of tea from the "tea-concentrate," pour 1/4 (1 quart) of it into the other 1-gallon pitcher.
Step 9

Pour tap or spring water until you fill this pitcher to the 1-gallon mark. Again, you may want to experiment with your tap water vs. spring water.
Step 10

Refigerate both pitchers, the "concentrate" and the "ready-to-drink-tea." Add ice to glasses (if you prefer) and ENJOY sugar-free, calorie-free, worry-free and diabetic-friendly sweet tea...southern-style!!! Also add lemon, if desired.
Step 11

the finished product...a beautiful glass of sweet, cold tea for thee! (Ralph Waldo Emerson would be proud!)

Share with your family, friends and any diabetics you know :)) And...let me know how you like it, or love it. **GREAT TIP** Several glasses of this tea will help you read and/or write many articles :)) Happy drinking...this glass is for YOU :))